Morning sun streamed in through the large windows of the classroom shining across the desks in the classroom casting shadows on the wall opposite the windows. Students were chattering about homework, some were joking and talking about what they were going to do on the weekend. A few students were giggling while a couple of paper planes glided in the air until the teacher walked in and the class settled at once not testing out the teacher's mood that day.
Adrian White sat in the last row with his elbow resting against the desk and chin in hand. His eyes weren't looking at the board or his book, they were on her.
Delphini Riddle sat near the window where sunlight spilt across her pale hair like molten silver. Her posture was prim and proper like every time while her hands were resting on the desk as she paid attention to what was being taught in the class. She still hadn't spoken to anyone on her own volition.
The teacher asked a question about conjunctions to Delphini and she answered softly with a smooth voice and proper diction. She had a refined tone as if every word she spoke was something that had been programmed into her and she was reciting it.
Adrian glanced toward Reggie sitting beside him and whispered, "Hey. About yesterday."
Reggie took back his attention from doodling on his notebook, raised an eyebrow and said, "What about it?"
"You remember that ball Gregor threw?"
"You mean the one that went kaboom like in a movie?"
"Yes, before it burst. Did you see something weird?
Reggie looked at him blankly, shook his head and said, "Mate, it happened in a split second. I don't think I saw much. I was more focused on getting rid of that defender stuck on me."
Adrian lowered his voice even more and repeated, "You didn't see anything for sure? Like a crimson glowing light?"
Reggie gave him a weird look and touched Adrian's forehead, "Seems like you don't have any fever. Is something else wrong with you?"
Adrian pushed Reggie's hand away and said, "There is nothing wrong with me. I am just asking if you saw something like violet shards of light floating when that ball exploded."
"Mate, are you okay? I don't think there was anything like that at all. Maybe sunlight just gleamed in your eyes and you hallucinated that? You were tired as well then since we were pushing a bit too much."
Adrian leaned back in his chair knowing that Reggie wouldn't believe him no matter what he said.
'I am not crazy. I know what I saw.'
His eyes went back to Delphini and he knew there was something about her.
When the bell rang for lunch break, the hallway outside the classrooms turned into a slow-moving wave of students.
Near the boys' locker room, Gregor sat slouched against the tiled wall while chewing his gum noisily. Two of his friends or more like grunts, Liam and Carter stood beside him with their arms crossed while glaring at the passing crowd not to come near them.
"I still think that wasn't fair," grumbled Gregor with his thick brows furrowed.
"She didn't even get hit, " he complained.
"But you still got detention," muttered Liam.
"I missed my ride home yesterday. Mum yelled at me for half an hour."
"She acted like she was all innocent," Liam spat in hatred. "Didn't even flinch when the ball popped. Like she wanted you to get in trouble."
"She thinks she's better than everyone," Gregor said while cracking his knuckles menacingly. "Just because she talks fancy and floats around like a ghost."
"Shouldn't just let it go, mate," Liam added, narrowing his eyes. "People need to learn that there are consequences to their actions. Even creepy little queen wannabes like her."
Gregor exhaled through his nose, stood and decided.
"She'll get what's coming."
None of them noticed Adrian who was walking past the edge of the hallway because of their voices being too low in comparison to the buzz of the footsteps but their stares followed Delphini like a hawk eyeing its prey as she passed through the corridor.
After lunch, the halls went quieter. Most students had scattered off to their last-period classrooms or found corners to chat in. Delphini walked alone again with her presence being like a calm bubble that no one could penetrate.
Adrian stood near the door to his next class glancing at her walking towards the door.
He hesitated only for a second before jogging towards her.
"Hey," he said while falling into step beside her.
She didn't look at him but kept walking ignoring him.
"I'm Adrian," he added.
"I know," she said in a quiet tone that felt distant.
There was a long silence between them as they moved down the corridor. Other students parted around them watching Delphini out of the corner of their eyes.
"You're Delphini, right?"
"Yes."
"Cool name."
She gave no reply at all.
They turned the corner near the library. The walls of the library were lined with faded notice boards and class photos from ten years ago.
"Mind if I ask where you're from?"
"I do mind."
Adrian blinked and paused for a few seconds.
"O–okay. That's fair," he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry."
Delphini didn't say anything.
So Adrian kept going.
"I just... wanted to ask if you were alright. About that incident that happened yesterday. That was a close one."
Her eyes flicked toward him for the first time.
"Nothing happened to me. It was all fine," she said softly.
He laughed nervously and said, "I mean if the ball hadn't exploded out of nowhere, Gregor might've flattened you like a pancake. Or worse."
As he said that, he observed her expression deeply to get an inkling if she was involved in that incident yesterday.
Delphini didn't answer but her gaze stayed on him for a second longer than before.
Adrian looked up ahead and saw their class teacher locking the supplies room.
He quickened his pace and called out, "Sir!"
The teacher turned while holding a clipboard in one hand and said, "Yes, Adrian?"
"I was wondering..."
Adrian glanced back at Delphini who had stopped a few steps behind and asked, "She's new and everything. Can I show her around? You know introduce her to the other buildings? Courtyard, music room, science labs, stuff like that?"
The teacher looked at him and then at Delphini as if asking her if she was alright with that suggestion.
She didn't respond but she didn't object either.
"Very well," the teacher said. "Be quick. Your free period will end in twenty minutes."
Adrian gave a small nod and turned to Delphini with a smile and asked, "Well. Shall we?"
She didn't answer but she started walking beside him.
They moved through the hallways together passing the science lab first.
"That's the room where we try to turn our best to do some cool stuff, you know make colours of chemicals change, try our best to blow stuff up," Adrian said, gesturing at the test tubes.
No response.
They passed the music room next where faint piano notes drifted through the air..
"That's where Miss Penny teaches us music. If you sing badly enough, she claims the piano gets depressed. She also thinks students touching the drums disturbs the spirits of harmony' or something."
Still no response.
Adrian smiled anyway.
They passed the courtyard with the broken bench and the tree that tilted a little too far left.
"Here's where the unofficial battles of 'who can climb the tree fastest' happen. So far I'm undefeated," he said with mock pride and flexing his climbing skills.
Delphini glanced up at the tree.
"You could fall," she said simply.
Adrian grinned and said proudly, "Only if I let gravity win."
They passed the canteen next where students lined up for sandwiches and fries.
Adrian pointed at the far corner and said in a low voice as if remembering a bad memory, "Avoid the mac and cheese. It's like glue. You'll be chewing it even in your dreams."
Finally, they reached the old stone steps behind the building a quiet place most students forgot about.
Adrian sat on the top step while looking out towards the empty field.
Delphini stood beside the railing as her eyes scanned the trees beyond the fence.
There was a long silence.
Adrian hesitated and then he asked in a low tone, "Did you see it?"
Delphini turned slightly and asked in a confused tone, "See what?"
"The basketball," he said slowly. "When it exploded."
Her face remained calm.
"Violet Shards," he continued. "Floating light. It looked like... magic"
She looked at him. Her eyes still gave nothing away but there was a slight change in her gaze as she looked at Adrian in his eyes for the first time.
"You saw that," he said more of a statement than a question.
Delphini stared at him for a few moments. Then, suddenly as soon as she was going to start speaking
Adrian tilted his head. "How do you know I don't?"
A loud voice echoed from the top of the stairs.
"Adrian!"
He turned and looked at the person who called him out.
It was Mr. Farley, their class teacher with a strained and urgent expression.
"You're needed in the office. Now. Something's happened."
Adrian frowned. "What do you mean?"
The teacher didn't reply. Just motioned for Adrian to follow him.
Adrian felt something twist in his stomach.
He nodded once and took off running toward the school's administrative office as his heart started pounding harder with every step.
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